Process and apparatus for conditioning sheets of paper



W. H. LESLIE April 21, 1936.

Filed May 22, 1935 WWW wgmmm M E \l& 6/,

I NVE NT DE Patented Apr. 2!, 1936 PATENT OFFICE PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR CONDI- TIONING SHEETS OF PAPER William H. Leslie, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Application May 22, 1935 Serial No. 22,750

Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for conditioning paper for printers and lithographers use, that is to say for bringing the moisture content of sheets of paper to agree with that of the air in the room in which the paper is to be used.

\ I attain my object by proceeding as follows. A plurality of sheets of paper are hung in series on a suitable rack in such a manner that air may be blown between the sheets from below. The air is projected from a longitudinal series of air nozzles and means are provided to longitudinally reciprocate the sheets and air nozzles relative to one another, so that the lower edges of the sheets travel across the paths of the air jets. The result is that, though the air jets are few relative to the number of sheets of paper, all are equally exposed to the air currents which flow up each side of each sheet. It is not essential that individual sheets be hung in spaced relationship as the desired result may be obtained by hanging the paper in spaced bunches since, under the action of the air jets, the sheets fan out and separate to expose their surfaces equally 9 to the action .of the air.

Preferably the sheets are hung on stationary racks and the air nozzles are moved, preferably by arranging them to swing on a conduit through which the air is supplied.

The invention is hereinafter more specifically described and the apparatus is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the apparatus; and i Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 in Fig. 1.

In the drawing like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

Referring to Fig. 1, I is a rotary fan, preferably driven by an electric motor, which discharges into a conduit 2 to a series of air nozzles I. These nozzles are hinged at 4 on the upper ends of elbow pipes extending through the upper side of the conduit and having their inner ends facing the direction from which theair in the conduit is travelling. These elbows facilitate the exit of the air and cut down frictional resistance. So that any one elbow will not interfere with the passage of air to the next succeeding elbow, the elbows are alternately inclined right and left y, as shown. To equalize the discharge from the various nozzles inclined deflectors 6 may be employed in the conduit as required to direct more or lessair to the nozzles according to their position in the series.

All the nozzles are pivotally connected to a connecting rod 1, which rod is reciprocated slowly by means of speed reducing gearing from the fan spindle. This gearing comprises a worm l0 secured on the fan spindle, a worm wheel ll secured on the vertical-spindle I2 journalled on the fan casing, the worm l3 secured to the upper end of the spindle and meshing with the worm wheel I4 secured to the crank disk l5 journalled on the fan casing. and actuating the link l6 pivoted to the end of the connecting rod 1. l0

1 The air blast apparatus described is preferably mounted on a wheeled frame 8 for convenience inuse. When in use the air blast apparatus is positioned beneath a stationary rack comprising longitudinal bars 9 which may be supported 15 by hangers-from the ceiling of the room in which the apparatus is used. On the bars 9 the paper sheets are hung in spaced bunches by means of suitable clips. While any clips which will grip the paper sheets may be used I prefer for this 0 purpose clips such as shown in Fig. 1 of the draw- Each clip comprises a. bracket l1 secured toa bar 9 and on which is pivoted a cam member l8 adapted to cooperate with the back of the bracket of an adjacent clip to clamp the sheets against it as shown.

Due to the relative longitudinal movement of the paper and air nozzles, the sheets spreadthemselves out, as indicated, so that the air passes between each sheet and its neighbor. The effect is much enhanced due to the fact that the angle A of impact of the air blasts against the surfaces of the sheets of paper is constantly varying and also in that the blasts are directed alternately against opposite sides of the sheets.

In practice two rows of racks are employed one behind the other. The tubes 3 first operating against the sheets of one row of racks and then being brought to operate on the sheets supported by the other row of racks while the original bunches of sheets are being turned end for end.

If the air employed is taken from the room in which the work is to be done, the moisture content of the paper will be either increased or decreased as may be required, thus avoiding any changes in the dimensions of the sheets during the lithographic process.

While I have described the best embodiment of my invention at present known to me, it will be understood, of course, that many changes may be made in the details of construction which would fall within the scope of my invention.

What I claim as my invention is:

Air blast apparatus for use in a device of the class described comprising an air conduit; a rotary fan discharging into one end of the conduit; a plurality of elbow pipes fixed to the conduit and extending through the top thereof.

the inner ends of said elbows facing the air current in the conduit; and air nozzles hinged on the outer ends of said elbows to swing in a plane longitudinal of the conduit and communicating with the interior thereof.

2. Air blast apparatus substantially as set forth in claim 1 in which the elbows are positioned so that the mouths of alternate elbows are slightly to one side of the mouths of adjacent elbows.

3. In a device of the class described, the com-v bination of a rack; means for suspending sheets of paper by one edge transversely of the rack in a longitudinal series; an air conduit extending longitudinally of and below the rack and having a plurality of air outlets in a series longitudinal of the conduit; and means interposed between the outlets and the paper on the rack movable to direct air jets from the air outlets at different s,oss,sss

angles to the paper and alternately 'against opposite sides of the sheets.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of a rack; means for suspending sheets of paper by one edge transversely of the rack; a plurality of air nozzles mounted in a series to swing longitudinally of the device anddischarge upwardly against the lower edges of the sheets of paper; -means for supplying air to the nozzles;

and means for swinging the air nozzles to vary the angle of impact of the air jets from the nozzles against the sides of the sheets of paper.

5. A process of conditioning paper which comprises hanging a plurality of sheets ofpaper by their upper edges in spaced relation and in a 

